By Naranbat Serjmaa
OCA Youth Reporter from Mongolia
Nagoya, Japan, September 23, 2026: For Thailand’s gold medal-winning equestrian eventing team, the composure they displayed in the arena was built long before stepping on to the competition floor. Ask the riders what anchored their squad during high-stakes moments, and they point directly to the strength of their shared daily routine.
“We’ve been working hard together—not only about the horses, but also our daily life,” explained team rider Korntawat Samran during the post-event press conference. “We live together, we create a good bonding between each other, between the riders, and also the horses. We know each other by heart.”
That chemistry was forged during an intensive training stint at Maxence Stable in France under a dedicated Thailand Equestrian Federation program. Living under the same roof far from home created an unshakeable baseline of trust and quiet confidence that carried directly into their Asian Games campaign.
The victory marks a major progression from the bronze medal Thailand earned at the previous Asian Games. Over the multi-year gap between competitions, the squad systematically analyzed their weak points and elevated their training standard.
“After we won the bronze medal in the last Asian Games, we kept training and never stopped trying to improve ourselves,” said teammate Weerapat Pitakanonda. “We tried to fix what we lacked and make it better this time. With all the hard work and support, that is what made us succeed today.”
Long-term equine partnerships proved equally decisive. Pitakanonda highlighted an eight-year bond with his horse—a partnership that carried them through the Tokyo Olympics before culminating in Asian Games gold in Japan.
Behind the collective triumph are decades of personal dedication across generations. At 59 years old, veteran rider Preecha Khunjan marked his fourth Asian Games appearance—a journey tracing back to 2002—expressing gratitude to the Royal Thai Army, the Thailand Equestrian Federation, and the royal family for decades of steadfast support.
For debutant rider Supap Khaw-ngam, taking over a horse previously ridden by his teammate and standing atop the podium represented the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“I’ve been in the Thai national team since I was a kid and had a lot of doubts in myself,” Khaw-ngam reflected. “This gold medal helps to inspire the new generation of Thai riders. It shows that we all have the ability to represent Thailand at the international level.”
Looking back on their journey from France to the top step of the podium, Samran summarized their winning approach in simple terms.
“You have to have a good team spirit, take care of good horses, and have good support behind you,” Samran said. “I think that is what it takes.”
Thailand won gold with 109.9 penalty points, ahead of Japan with silver on 115.2 and Korea with bronze on 143.5.
